Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in United States of America
United States of America: Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum was 3.72 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in United States of America, 2000–2025
Source: Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Analysis
United States of America recorded 3.72 million for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
That represents a change of up 16.8% on the previous year and up 1,199.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in United States of America peaked at 3.72 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 6,276, in 2010.
United States of America ranks 1st of 179 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in United States of America, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 386,303 | — |
| 2001 | 395,849 | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 395,358 | -0.1% |
| 2003 | 350,860 | -11.3% |
| 2004 | 263,675 | -24.8% |
| 2005 | 169,706 | -35.6% |
| 2006 | 124,194 | -26.8% |
| 2007 | 83,855 | -32.5% |
| 2008 | 69,188 | -17.5% |
| 2009 | 63,758 | -7.8% |
| 2010 | 6,276 | -90.2% |
| 2011 | 11,700 | +86.4% |
| 2012 | 18,946 | +61.9% |
| 2013 | 84,317 | +345.0% |
| 2014 | 187,815 | +122.7% |
| 2015 | 286,177 | +52.4% |
| 2016 | 439,864 | +53.7% |
| 2017 | 642,719 | +46.1% |
| 2018 | 718,992 | +11.9% |
| 2019 | 847,608 | +17.9% |
| 2020 | 997,996 | +17.7% |
| 2021 | 1.30 million | +30.6% |
| 2022 | 1.80 million | +38.0% |
| 2023 | 2.60 million | +44.6% |
| 2024 | 3.18 million | +22.4% |
| 2025 | 3.72 million | +16.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 230,275 | 63,758 | 395,849 | 10 |
| 2010s | 324,441 | 6,276 | 847,608 | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.27 million | 997,996 | 3.72 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More social development data for United States of America
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 457,647 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,667 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 2 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 3,667 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0013 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in United States of America?
- Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum in United States of America was 3.72 million in 2025, according to Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
- What is the highest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 3.72 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,276 in 2010.
- How does United States of America rank for asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum?
- United States of America ranks 1st out of 179 countries with data for 2025.
- Is asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,199.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from Refugee Population Statistics Database, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), published as part of Asylum-seekers by country or territory of asylum. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Asylum-seekers are individuals who have sought international protection and whose claims for refugee status have not yet been determined. This includes those who are in various stages of the asylum process, such as initial application, appeal, or awaiting final decision. In specific contexts, asylum-seekers may also include those who are seeking protection under complementary forms of protection, and those enjoying temporary protection, but whose claims are still under consideration.